Fondation Hamon affair
Encyclopedia
The Fondation Hamon affair was a French political scandal surrounding the Fondation Hamon, a project to build a modern art museum on île Saint-Germain
at Issy-les-Moulineaux
, later abandoned.
The project was initiated by Jean Hamon
, who had made his fortune in property development, and his gift to the Conseil général of Hauts-de-Seine
of nearly 200 paintings and sculptures with a total value of 7.5 million Euros, stored at Hamon's castle at Bullion (Yvelines
). That Conseil général was then presided over by Charles Pasqua
. A mixed syndicate, with Charles Pasqua
and André Santini
(UDF deputy mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux
) as co-presidents, was created in 2000. In 2003, a judge in Versailles was surprised to see the département invest (without control over the funds) 800,000 Euros for the storage and conservation of the works. Charles Pasqua and André Santini, as well as many other civil servants, were indicted in the case in mid-2003. Also, Nicolas Sarkozy
could also be involved in the affair, according to Libération
, since the Conseil général continued to make such payments to Hamon for a year after Sarkozy became its president. The mixed syndicate has to pay expenses to Hamon until 2011. The foundation collapsed and its construction permit was cancelled after an appeal launched by ecologists and local residents.
Since mid-2003 several investigations into embezzlement
of public funds were put in place by judge Nathalie Andreassian, particularly into politicians and civil servants of the Conseil général des Hauts-de-Seine.
Île Saint-Germain
Île Saint-Germain is an island located in the Seine in Issy-les-Moulineaux in the département of Hauts-de-Seine near Paris, France. It once housed a military camp that was later abandoned, but the island was redeveloped in 1980. The island is divided into two parts. The developed side includes...
at Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. On 1 January 2003, Issy-les-Moulineaux became part of the Communauté d'agglomération Arc de Seine along with the other communes of Chaville, Meudon, Vanves and Ville-d'Avray...
, later abandoned.
The project was initiated by Jean Hamon
Jean Hamon (philanthropist)
Jean Hamon is a French developer and millionaire patron of the arts. He is notable as one of the builders of the La Défense area of Paris and temporary co-owner with the Labeyrie group of the Parisian cabaret L'Alcazar...
, who had made his fortune in property development, and his gift to the Conseil général of Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
of nearly 200 paintings and sculptures with a total value of 7.5 million Euros, stored at Hamon's castle at Bullion (Yvelines
Yvelines
Yvelines is a French department in the region of Île-de-France.-History:Yvelines was created from the western part of the defunct department of Seine-et-Oise on 1 January 1968 in accordance with a law passed on 10 January 1964 and a décret d'application from 26 February 1965.It gained the...
). That Conseil général was then presided over by Charles Pasqua
Charles Pasqua
Charles Pasqua is a French businessman and Gaullist politician. He was Interior Minister from 1986 to 1988, under Jacques Chirac's cohabitation government, and also from 1993 to 1995, under the government of Edouard Balladur...
. A mixed syndicate, with Charles Pasqua
Charles Pasqua
Charles Pasqua is a French businessman and Gaullist politician. He was Interior Minister from 1986 to 1988, under Jacques Chirac's cohabitation government, and also from 1993 to 1995, under the government of Edouard Balladur...
and André Santini
André Santini
André Santini is a French politician, mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux, Hauts-de-Seine.A former member of the UDF, he did not support François Bayrou, the candidate of his party for the first round of 2007 French presidential election, choosing instead to support Nicolas Sarkozy.After the election, he...
(UDF deputy mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. On 1 January 2003, Issy-les-Moulineaux became part of the Communauté d'agglomération Arc de Seine along with the other communes of Chaville, Meudon, Vanves and Ville-d'Avray...
) as co-presidents, was created in 2000. In 2003, a judge in Versailles was surprised to see the département invest (without control over the funds) 800,000 Euros for the storage and conservation of the works. Charles Pasqua and André Santini, as well as many other civil servants, were indicted in the case in mid-2003. Also, Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
could also be involved in the affair, according to Libération
Libération
Libération is a French daily newspaper founded in Paris by Jean-Paul Sartre and Serge July in 1973 in the wake of the protest movements of May 1968. Originally a leftist newspaper, it has undergone a number of shifts during the 1980s and 1990s...
, since the Conseil général continued to make such payments to Hamon for a year after Sarkozy became its president. The mixed syndicate has to pay expenses to Hamon until 2011. The foundation collapsed and its construction permit was cancelled after an appeal launched by ecologists and local residents.
Course
The affair began in May 2003 after Hamon's accountant confessed. The judge suspected him of having inflated the costs. Jean Hamon had received nearly 750,000 from public funds.Since mid-2003 several investigations into embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
of public funds were put in place by judge Nathalie Andreassian, particularly into politicians and civil servants of the Conseil général des Hauts-de-Seine.
Protagonists
- Jean HamonJean Hamon (philanthropist)Jean Hamon is a French developer and millionaire patron of the arts. He is notable as one of the builders of the La Défense area of Paris and temporary co-owner with the Labeyrie group of the Parisian cabaret L'Alcazar...
was indicted for misuse of stolen public funds.
- Charles PasquaCharles PasquaCharles Pasqua is a French businessman and Gaullist politician. He was Interior Minister from 1986 to 1988, under Jacques Chirac's cohabitation government, and also from 1993 to 1995, under the government of Edouard Balladur...
was UMP senator for Hauts-de-SeineHauts-de-SeineHauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
. Indicted on 23 May 2006 for 'illegally taking interest'
- André SantiniAndré SantiniAndré Santini is a French politician, mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux, Hauts-de-Seine.A former member of the UDF, he did not support François Bayrou, the candidate of his party for the first round of 2007 French presidential election, choosing instead to support Nicolas Sarkozy.After the election, he...
, Nouveau Centre mayor by Issy-les-MoulineauxIssy-les-MoulineauxIssy-les-Moulineaux is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. On 1 January 2003, Issy-les-Moulineaux became part of the Communauté d'agglomération Arc de Seine along with the other communes of Chaville, Meudon, Vanves and Ville-d'Avray...
(Hauts-de-Seine), indicted on 3 June for 'illegally taking interest'
Sources
- Le rapport qui accable Pasqua et Santini JdD, 28 October 2007
- André Santini mis en examen dans l'affaire de la fondation Hamon, AFP, 3 June 2006
- Fondation Hamon: Charles Pasqua mis en examen, AP, 23 May 2006
- A Issy-les-Moulineaux, la gabegie de Pasqua et Santini, Libération, 7 April 2004
- Un mécène en prison, Journal du Dimanche, 28 September 2003